Bairns can be satisfied - Hughes

24 May 2009 14:15
The Bairns won 1-0 at Inverness thanks to a second-half strike from Michael Higdon to earn their own reprieve from the drop and instead send their opponents into the Irn-Bru First Division. Hughes, whose side now have a Homecoming Scottish Cup final against Rangers to look forward to next weekend, claims his players can be proud of what they have achieved this season. He said: "It hasn't half turned into a right good season for Falkirk Football Club. We got to the semi-final of the League Cup, we still have a chance of winning the Scottish Cup and we have finished 10th in the SPL." The Bairns boss is hopeful that after securing top-flight football for another season, he will be given the finances to keep the nucleus of his squad together. He said: "With us going on all these cup runs, I'd like to think that next season the money will go back into the budget so we can keep these players. "All credit to the lads as there are 14 players in my squad that don't know whether or not they will be here next year. We have a lot of work to do in the next couple of weeks." The Falkirk manager added that he can now enjoy the preparations for next week's cup final, safe in the knowledge that his side is still an SPL side. He added: "We are going down to Sunderland to use their training facilities for a couple of days to prepare. "We will talk it over with a few of the senior boys and decide how we are going to play against Rangers. But no matter what happens for Rangers on their final day of the season, it is always going to be a hard task playing against them. "They have some wonderful players but I hope that our supporters can go and enjoy the day. We will certainly be going there to give it a right good go." Inverness boss Terry Butcher believes the club must start working now to build a squad that will be good enough to return to the SPL at the first time of asking. He said: "There are 16 players out of contract and there are players we would like to re-sign and we will be speaking to them. "Your bargaining power is not as great when you are an SFL club rather than an SPL club but we will see what we can get. "This club is a great place to be, a great place to come to, a great place to work and the people of Inverness have been fantastic. "There is a good foundation for the club so we will move forward. It is just a pity we won't be in the SPL next season but our aim is to get back there as quickly as we can." However, Butcher admitted that winning the First Division next season will be a tall order. He added: "There is going to be great competition in the First Division next year. "Dundee have a bit of money, Queen of the South and Partick are good sides and there are a lot of other good teams. "We will be a big scalp as well. It is going to be difficult next year but if the club moves forward in the way it wants to then I'm confident we can give it a right go next year."

Source: Team_Talk